Retail hiring takes Lubbock jobless rate down to 4.5% in November

November was the fourth consecutive month the state’s unemployment rate has declined

Retailers bolstering their staffs for the holiday rush lowered Lubbock’s jobless rate to 4.5 percent last month, according to Texas Workforce Commission numbers.

The commission released its monthly report Friday, Dec. 20, showing the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 6.0 percent, down from 6.1 percent in October.

November was the fourth consecutive month the state’s unemployment rate has declined.

Lubbock’s jobless rate was 4.7 percent in October and 4.7 percent in November 2012.

“We are pleased to see Lubbock remains one of the strongest areas in Texas where state unemployment continues to remain below the national average. It certainly is the season for retail to experience growth, but we also continue to remain strong in the construction industry, in contrast to other areas of the state,” said Martin Aguirre, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions South Plains.

Terri Patterson, director of workforce development at the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, said the area’s retailers have indicated they’re expecting a strong holiday sales season this year.

According to the workforce commission’s report, the Lubbock area gained 900 jobs in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which includes retail sales.

For the month, the area posted a net gain of 1,000 non-farm jobs. The area gained 200 jobs in the government sector and 100 in education and health services, and lost 100 jobs each in the leisure and hospitality sector and a sector called other services.

On a year-to-year basis, the area has gained 3,800 jobs in the last 12 months, with 1,100 of them coming in the trade, transportation and utilities category.

The number of farm-related jobs held steady at 7,800 workers between October and November.

The jobless rate fell in part because the area gained jobs faster than the workforce grew. The number of people working rose from 142,100 in October to 143,100 last month.

At the same time, the civilian labor force grew from 149,100 people in October to 149,800 last month. Federal labor statisticians define the civilian labor force as the number of people with jobs and the number of unemployed people who have actively sought work in the last 30 days.

Lubbock and Abilene are tied for the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the state. Midland’s jobless rate is the state’s lowest at 2.9 percent, followed by Odessa at 3.5 percent and Amarillo at 4.1 percent.